For New Farmers
Starting a farm operation requires thorough analysis of complex options. Setting goals, planning and brainstorming with others can help you make the best decisions for your particular situation. However, there are no easy answers. If you're a beginning farmer looking for a chance to start your own operation, this Connecticut Farm Link website can help you examine your alternatives.
We suggest you first call the CT Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Department (860) 713-2503 for an informational packet on starting in Connecticut. We have experience in guiding you through the basics of farming in Connecticut.
Other Helpful State And National Organizations
CT Dept of Economic & Community Development Programs and Services provides services to all Connecticut businesses. http://www.ct.gov/ecd/cwp/view.asp?a=1095&q=249640
Growing New Farmers: a Northeastern US collaborative to help new farmers. Information at this website used this site as a clearinghouse for the needs of new farmers and to address them.
http://www.growingnewfarmers.org
New England Small Farm Institute has a lot of other information about farm transfer, farm succession, small farms, farm planning and exploring the small farm dream.
Iowa’s Agricultural Marketing Resource Center has a series of web pages with documents on how to start an ag business and the planning process. http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/business/startingbusiness/
And also has another set of pages on how to operate the business:
http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/business/operatingbus
Apprenticeship and Training Opportunities
Ambler Farm in Wilton, Connecticut has a summer program for middle school children to have the hands-on, on-farm experience.
http://www.amblerfarm.org
New England Willing Workers on Organic Farms (an apprenticeship placement service):
http://www.smallfarm.org/newoof/newoof.html
New England Willing Workers on Organic Farms (an apprenticeship placement service):
http://www.smallfarm.org/newoof/newoof.html
Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture (nationwide listing from the National Agriculture Library): www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/edtr.htm
CRAFT: Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training in Western CT. Apprenticeship program on several cooperating organic farms. http://www.bloomingfieldsfarm.com/cft_home.html
Models of Incubator Farms or New Farmer Training Programs:
Intervale Farms Program (Vermont): a small farm incubator program that leases land, greenhouses, and equipment to new farmers who set up small organic farm enterprises on Intervale land: www.intervale.org/FarmsProgram.htm
Nuestras Raices (Holyoke, MA): Started as an urban gardening program with the Puerto Rican community. Now includes an incubator farm, Tierra de Oportunidades, as well as a community kitchen, bakery, restaurant, youth program, etc.
www.nuestras-raices.org/
Southside Community Land Trust (Providence, RI): Also started with community gardens, expanded to include environmental programs, city farm.
http://users.ids.net/~sclt/
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (Tufts University with farms in Dracut and other towns): Trains immigrant and refugee farmers in agriculture with an 18 week program. At the end of 18 weeks, the farmers should have in hand a production plan, business plan, and marketing plan, and be ready to farm on a small scale at the incubator farm. At the end of 3 years, the project helps the new farmer get established on other land (generally rented from local farmers). http://nutrition.tufts.edu/research/nesfp/
